Apparatus and process for treating hydrocarbon oils



June 7, 1938. KIRSCHBRAUN APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR TREATING HYDROCARBONOILS N H-uHl l l l l l h-Hll l U IHWI I H U l l l H pa l h OriginalFiled Ap Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STATES APPARATUS AND PROCESS FORTREATTN HYDROOABBON OILS Lester Kirschbraun, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Universal Oil Products Company, Chicago, 111., acorporation of Dela- Application April 1, 1920, Serial No. 370,468

Renewed May 26, 1927 19 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in an apparatus and process fortreating hydrocarbon oils 'and refers'more particularly to adifferential pressure process for the converting of 5 heavy hydrocarbonoils into lighter oils of th character of gasoline or the like;

Among its salient objects are to provide a process in which the oil issubjected in succeeding steps to different pressures and temperatures,It} the limits of same being controlled to maintain the oil under themost advantageous cracking conditions; to provide a process in which theoil vapors passing through the stages of the process are dephlegmated ineach stage by being passed 15 through the residual oil before finallybeing directed to the condenser, thereby producing a more uniformdistillate; to provide a process in a which the precipitated carbon isprevented from settling in the bottom of the separate retorts so whichconstitute the stages of the process due so vation of the apparatus usedto carry out this process.

Referring to this drawing, the raw oil is introduced to the supply pipeI- from any convenient source and is forced into the cracking 35 tubes 2through the pump 3 and charging pipe 4, which is controlled by valve 5The oil in the tubes is subjected tov heat in the furnace .3, the heatbeing supplied by means of an oil burner I. The cracked oil is directedfrom the 40 cracking tubes through the lines 3, 8a, 8b and to controlledby valves 3, 312, 3a, 3b and 3c respectively to a series of connectedretorts III, II, l2 and i3.' These retorts are connected by the lines14, II and ii, in which are interposed the valves 45 H. II and I3. Theends of these pipe lines are upturned at a, lid. and Ila to form openended stand-pipes in each 'of the retorts. An open ended stand pipe 23extends up into the retort l3 and furnishes a residuum drawofl fromthis. 5

50 final stage of the apparatus. This drawofl pipe 23 is controlled by avalve 2i,

In each of the succeedingrtoits, it will be noted that the standpipeextends a little higher into'the retort and retains-the residual oil ata s5 somewhat higher level. The vapors generated in the retort l riseinto the vapor line 22 and are dephlegmated in the aerial 23. From thisaerial the uncondensed vapors are directed out through the line. 24,while the distillate is returned to be retreated in the cracking tubesthrough the secondary connecting line 25, which is controlled by a valve26 and the return line 21, controlled by valve 23 and the pump 3. Thenatural course ofthe vapors, fter passing into the line 24, assumingthevalve 9, closed, is down through the injector line 30, controlled byvalve 3| into the residual oil of the nei'it succeeding re-, tort II.The lower part of this injector line is perforated, thereby permittingthe vapors to be difiused in small streams through the residual 011. I

The passing of these vapors through this liquid subjects them to furtherdephlegmation and assists in the vaporization qr any lighterhydrocarbons which may be contained in the residual 'oil'of this retort.The vapors or gasses bubbling up through the liquid pass out through thetop of the retort ll, through the line 32 and are again subjected to thecondensing action of the dephlegmator 33 located above theretort ll. Aspreviously explained, the vapors pass oil intothe line 24 and thedistillate is returned to the cracking tube. With the valves 23, 34, 36,in a closed position and valve 33' in an open position, and the vaporstaking their normal course, they will so be directed as explainedthrough each of the successive retorts, being subjected to adephlegmatory action both in the aerials 23, 33, 34a and 33 and in= theresidual oil in retorts Ill, .12

and I3 and finally pass over from the final serial :5 r 33 through'thegooseneck 43 to the water condenser and receiver 42. The distillatecon-' densed in theaerials is tapped oil to be returned through the pipe21 to the cracking tubes, as explained inv the case of the aerial 23,which is located above the first retort Hi.

The condensate from the dephlegmators instead of being returned to thecracking tubes through the line 21 may be directed to the retortsthroughthe connecting pipes 33, 43.- 31 and 46' 33 which areregulated bythe-valves 63. II, II

- and 12. Valves I3, l4, l5 and l4 in the distillate return line 21 andvalves 22, 23a and 23b in pipes 25, 2la and 23b furnish additional meansfor controlling the disposition of the condensate 60 from thedephlegmator. I

Tomaintain the residual oil-in the 'retorts'at a proper height, it maybe necessary to pump the oil from one stage to another and for thispurpose, I mount the pumps, 43, 44 and 45 between I the respectiveretorts and connect them with the retorts in such a manner that pump 43may draw oil from the retort I through the inlet line 46 controlled byvalve 41 andsupply the same to the retort H through the line 48,controlled by valve 49; or by closing the valve 49, the retort ll may becut out and the residual oil supplied to the retort I2 through the line50, which is controlled by valves 5i and 52. The pump 44 in the same waymay draw a supply of residual oil through the inlet pipe 53 controlledby valve 54 and supply the same to the retort l2 through the line 50, orif the valve 52 be closed, the retort l2 may be cut out and theresidual.oil supplied to the retort l3 through line 51 regulated byvalves 58 and 11. The pump 45, taking its charge of residual oil fromthe retort I 2 through the line 55, controlled by valve 56, supplies thesame to the retort 13 through line 5.! controlled by valve 58. Theheight of the residual oil in each of the retorts may be regulatedeither by the system of pumps or by the valves l1, l8 and lainterposedin the standpipe lines.

The receiver for collecting the final distillate is fitted with theusual type-oi pressure gauge 59, pressure relief valve 60, liquid gauge6i and drawoff pipe 62 controlled by a valve 63. By causing the gases topass through a series of aerials, and bubble up through the residual oilin the retorts, the final vapor is thoroughly dephlegmated. Thisagitating of residual .oil in the respective retorts by passing vaporstherethrough tends to keep the precipitated carbon caused'by thecracking of the oil in suspension in the retorts and obviates, to agreat extent, the difilculties of having this precipitated carbondeposited upon the interior of the retorts and vapor lines. Thecontrolling of the amount oi residual oil relative to the volume ofgases in the respective retorts, together with theabsolute' control ofthe pressure commensurate with the temperature provides a combination bymeans of which the character of the final distillate may be positivelycontrolled.

If desired, the heating gases'from the furnace may be directed by meansof a duct 64, to the differentretorts to offset to a certain degree, theheat lost through radiation in the retorts and vapor lines.

It will be noted that with the arrangement of the valves (as shown) inthe inlet, vapor distillate return lines from the 'dephlegmators and theresiduum or condensate control lines to the respective retorts, one ormore of the retorts may be cut out of the system at any time to becleaned orrepaired.

In the cracking off hydrocarbon oils, in the process above explained theoil on entering the first retort is at a high temperature andhighpressure. In this first expansion or cracking zone,

vapors will be released from the body of the oil commensurate with thetemperatureand pressure maintained in said zone. That portion of the oilwhich is directed to the succeedingretort will be subjected to atemperature somewhat lower than the temperature in the initial stage anda correspondingly decreasing pressure. Here again, oil vapors whichwould be released under such conditions are freed from the oil and aresubjected to identical conditions of dephlegmation as those releasedfrom the'initial stage except that after passing through theaerialcondenser they are injected into the body of the oil in a succeedingretort where the temperature oi! the oil is somewhat lower; on, in eachsucceeding-stage. the

decreasing pressure maintained therein releases oil vapors having ahigher end point. From the -final stage we have a combination of thesevapors injected through the oil body and directed to be condensed andcollected as a distillate in the receiving tank.

As an illustrative run, I will heat gas oil from the midcontinent fieldof from 32 to 34 Baum to a temperature of about 850 F. in the heatingcoils and admitting the same to the initial stage. where a pressure ofpounds is maintained upon the oil. For eflicient operation and forprocuring a greater yield of oil, I find that the succeedingtemperatures in the stills ll, l2 and I3 are roughly 750, 700 and 650 F.respectively. The pressure in each stage decreases from 25 to 50 pounds.Under such conditions a yield of 50% distillate may be obtained fromwhich I have been able to procure by redistillation, about 80% of 400 F.end point gasoline.

I claim as y invention:

1. A continuous process for treating hydrocarbon oils, comprisingsubjecting the oil to heat in a cracking zone to be heated to a crackingtemperature, in passing the oil through successive vapor releasingchambers of diminishing temperatures and pressure, in removing refluxcondensate from the vapors produced in each vapor releasing chamber, andin passing the vapors produced in one vapor releasing chamber through a.body of oil undergoing treatment at a cracking temperature in thesucceeding vapor releasing chambers of lower temperature and pressureand in finally discharging the vapors ior condensation and collection.

2. A continuous process for treating hydrocar bon oiL consisting insubjecting the oil to heat in a cracking zone, in passing thecracked oilthrough successive vapor releasing chambers of decreasing temperatureand pressure, dephlegmating the oil vapors from one of said vaporreleasing chambers by passing the same through a body of unvaporized oilat a cracking temperature in the succeeding chamber, drawing off andcondensing the vapors from the final vapor releasing chamber.

3. A continuous process for treating hydrocarbon oil, consisting insubjecting the oil to heat in bon oils, consisting in subjecting the oilto a 1 cracking temperature in a heating-zone, in passing the highlyheated oil through zones wherein successively decreasing temperaturesand pressures are maintained, -in dephlegmating 'the'oil vaporsgenerated in the respective series by in.-

jecting the same into the bodies'ot theunvaporized oil in the succeedingzones and by passing them through successive 'dephleg'mating towers.

at least one oi said bodies being at afcracking temperature,- inreturning selected portions of the resulting reflux condensate throughthe heating zone, and in collecting and subjecting the vapors fromapredetermined zone to condensation.

5. A continuous process'for treating hydrocarbon oils, consisting insubjecting the oil to a cracking temperature in a heating zone, indirecting the heated oil constituents through zones of decreasingtemperature and pressure, in dephlegmating the oil vapors generated inthe respective zones by passing them into the bodies of the unvaporizedoil in the succeeding zones, at least one of said bodies being at acracking temperature, in maintaining the carbon in suspension byagitating the oil in each zone with such vapors from the preceding zone,in further dephlegmating the vapors by passing them through successivedephlegmating towers, in returning selected portions of the refluxcondensate resulting from such dephlegmation for re-treatment in theheating zone, and in subjecting the vapors from the final zone tocondensation, and in collecting the resulting distillate.

through the body of oil in a succeeding chamber and drawing oil andcondensing the vapors issuing from the final releasing chamber.

'7. A continuous process for treating hydrocarbon oil comprisingsubjecting the oil to heat in dephlegmating action and returning refluxcondensate obtained thereby to the cracking zone for retreatment.

8. Apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon oils comprising a heating coil, abattery of stills, means for selectively charging oil from the coil tothe several stills, means for condensing a portion of the vapors fromthe stills, and means for selectively admitting condensate to theseveral stills.

9. Apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon oils comprising a heating coil, 9.battery of stills, means for selectively charging oil from the coil tothe several stills, condensing means in connection with the stills,means for conducting condensate from said condensing means andselectively admitting same to the stills severally, and means forselectively drawing ofl. liquid from'the lower portion of the stills.

10. Apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon oils comprising a plurality ofstills, vapor equalizing and liquid level lines interconnecting thestills in series, means for introducing oil to the stills comprising amanifold line with valved branches to the several stills adapted toselectively admit the oil to the stills severally, a reflux condenseradapted to receive vapors from the stills and means for returningcondensate from said reflux condenser to the several stills comprising amaniiold line with valved branches to the several ing chambers of theseries, means for taking oiI vapors Irom each of said chambers, meansfor passing vapors taken from a preceding chamber through a succeedingchamber, means for subjecting vapors issuing from the last ofsaid seriesof chambers to condensation, and means for maintaining asuperatmospheric pressure on the oil undergoing treatment in theapparatus.

12. An apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon oils comprising a heatingmeans, a plurality-of vapors from a preceding. chamber into the lowerportion of a succeeding chamber, means for sub- .iecting vapors issuingfrom said serially connected chambers to final condensation, and means'for maintaining controlled pressure conditions on the oil in each orsaid serially connected vapor re leasing chambers.

13. A processor distilling oil comprising heating a heavy hydrocarbonoil under pressure to a cracking temperature while it is beingcirculated in a stream, discharging the heated oil into anenlargedchamber while maintaining the pressure therein to separatevapors fromthe oil, continuously leading the vapors. and the oil inseparate streams from the chamber into a body of oil maintained at acracking temperature and pressure, bringing the vapors into directcontact with the oil of the bodyand leading off. vapors from the bodyand condensing them. 1

14. A conversion process which comprises heatingheavy hydrocarbon oil tocracking temperature under. pressure while flowing in a restrictedstream, discharging the heated oil into an en,- larged chambermaintained under superatmospheric' pressure and separating vapors fromunvaporized oil therein, continuously removin 1 vaporized oil from saidchamber and maintaining a body thereof at a cracking temperature in asecond chamber, continuously removing vapors from the first-namedchamber and introducing the same into said body in the second chamber,

and removing vapors from the secondchamber and condensing the same.

15. A conversion process which comprises heating heavy hydrocarbon oilto cracking temperature under pressure while flowing in a restrictedstream, discharging the heated oil into an enlarged chamber maintainedat cracking temperature and under superatmospheric pressure and thereinseparating vapors from unvaporized oil, continuously removing separatestreams of vapors and unvaporized oil from said chamber and introducingthe same to a second chamber main- ;the second chamber and condensingthe same.

16. A conversion process which comprises heating heavy hydrocarbon oilto cracking temperature under pressure while flowing in a restrictedstream, discharging the heated oil into an en-' larged chambermaintainedat cracking temperature and under superatmospheric pressure,simultaneously distilling a body of oil at a cracking temperature in asecond chamber maintained under lower pressure than the first-mentionedchamber, separately removing vapors and unva- 15 .por releasingchambers, means for introducing in an enlarged chamber maintained underpresporized oil from the flrst mentioned chamber and introducing thesame into said body of oil in the second chamber, and removing. vaporsfrom the second chamber and condensing the same.

17. A conversion process which comprises heating heavy hydrocarbon oilto cracking temperature under pressure in a heating zone and separatingthe same into vapors and unvaporized oil sure, removing unvaporized oilfrom the chamber and distilling a body thereof at cracking temperaturein a second chamber, separately removing vapors from the first-mentionedchamber and dephlegmating the same to condense heavier fractionsthereof, returning resultant reflux con-. densate to the heating zone,introducing lighter fractions of the vapors uncondensed by saiddephlegmation into said body of unvaporized oil in the second chamber,and removing and condensing the vapors from the second chamber.

18. A conversion process which comprises heating hydrocarbon oil tocracking temperature un.-

der pressure in a heating zone and separating the same into vapors andunvaporized oil in an enlarged chamber maintained under crackingconditions of temperature and pressure, removing unvaporized oil fromthe chamber and maintaining a body thereof in a second chambermaintainedat lower cracking temperature and pressure than the first-mentionedchamber, separately removing vapors from the first-mentioned chamber anddephlegmating the same to condense heavier fractions thereoL'returningresultant reflux condensate to. the heating zone, introducing vaporsuncondensed by the dephlegmation into said body of unvaporized oil inthe second chamber, and removing and condensing the vapors from thesecond chamber.

19. A conversion process which comprises'heating heavy hydrocarbon oilto cracking temperature under pressure while flowing in a restrictedstream, discharging the heated'oil into an enlarged chamber maintainedunder cracking conditions of temperature and super-atmospheric

